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Japanese Garden Style

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Japanese Garden Style

If you're in search of peace and tranquillity in your garden, then look east - and in particular to Japan. The Japanese look is ideal for people who want simplicity, but find minimalism a bit too, well... minimal!

Japanese garden design has evolved over thousands of years and is quite complex, taking much of its inspiration from religious and philosophical beliefs like Shinto and Zen Buddhism.

Shinto, in particular, reveres the beauty of the natural landscape, and so it includes features like waterfalls, islands and old gnarled trees.

These natural looks should be reflected in your Japanese garden - using water features, bamboo, grasses and stones.

Screen It

Ideally suited to small, enclosed spaces, Japanese gardens are defined by their physical surroundings - garden walls, the buildings they are close to or even large plants on their boundaries. Create a sense of enclosure or mask unsightly buildings using an authentic Japanese boundary material - bamboo.

Exotic and Oriental sells bamboo in 5 metre (5 yard) length rolls, from £30 for 1 metre (1 yard) high. They also sell split cane screens which cost £15, £20 and £25 for 5 metres (5 yards) x 1, 1.5 and 2 metre/yard heights.

Oriental Chic

You don't need to be a purist about your Japanese garden. As long as you fill it with things that are serene and spiritual, it will work its magic.

So you can use modern must-haves like decking, simple planters and funky furniture. This 'Zen' bench (£495 + VAT) is designed by garden designer Anthony Paul. Order by phone: (01306) 627 677.

Your Comments

Japanese Garden Style
This is acutally a huge subject and possibly one of the hardest styles to get right. Here are some more pointers;

Rocks - in a japanese gardens rocks are as important as plants. The choosing and placing of a rock is just as considered as Alan Titchmarsh getting the face of a tree right.

Water - a very important element, even if it is a dry pond! Aim for an organic 'gourd' shape with a crossing bridge.

Moss - very important low planting to offset the verticals of trees. Consider MYOB (Helxine) or ophiopogon planiscarpus (modo grass) if moss doesn't grow naturally.

Flowers - Keep to a minimum, pick shrubs that flower rather than planting bedding.

Colour - Japanese maples give autumn colour making and azelias (or photinia if soil not acid) gives spring colour.

Scent - consider daphne odora and choysia ternata for good foliage looks and seasonal fragrance.

Asymmetry - avoid mirror image planting and trying to balance plants. Look for a 'dynamic interplay between branch an ground.

Space - Don't be afraid to leave empty space. These will make your actual elements far more effective

Accesories - Lanterns, water basins, deer scarers can make this look. But avoid using them to bludgeon the viewer when the rest of the garden isn't properly Japanese style. Beware poorly made Chinese lanterns in garish red colouring - look for simple granite that will age well.
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